All You Need to Know Ahead of the Final Championship Group Stage Game

Heading into the final round of group stage fixtures in the 2021 LV= County Championship campaign, the Running Foxes can mathematically finish third, fourth or fifth, meaning they can enter the divisional fixtures in either division two or division three.

Following a draw at Somerset in which Leicestershire accrued a total of six bonus points as well as the eight points earned for a draw, the Running Foxes currently sit in fifth place, five points off Surrey CCC in fourth.

The upcoming fixtures in Group Two are as follows;

Middlesex CCC v Leicestershire CCC

Gloucestershire CCC v Hampshire CCC

Surrey CCC v Somerset CCC

Bonus points can be a big factor in the decisive group stage fixture, with Leicestershire joint-second in the bonus points charts, alongside Hampshire on 43, and behind Somerset on 46.

There are a number permutations possible from the final round of group stage fixtures which will factor in what division the Running Foxes will be added into.

• If the Running Foxes beat Middlesex CCC, and Surrey CCC lose against Somerset CCC, then we will leapfrog Surrey CCC into fourth and be added into Division Two, alongside the loser of Gloucestershire CCC versus Hampshire CCC.
• If the Running Foxes beat Middlesex CCC, Surrey CCC beat Somerset CCC, then dependent on how many bonus points are picked up by the loser of Gloucestershire CCC versus Hampshire CCC, the Running Foxes could leapfrog them into the fourth and be added into Division Two alongside Surrey CCC.
• If the Running Foxes do not better either Hampshire CCC’s or Surrey CCC’s results, we will finish fifth and be added into Division Three alongside Middlesex CCC.
• If the Running Foxes fall to defeat to Middlesex CCC, then we will finish fifth and be added into Division Three alongside Middlesex CCC.

NB. Middlesex CCC cannot overtake the Running Foxes in Group Two whatever the outcome of the result at Merchant Taylor’s School.

With the group stages coming to a close following the next round of fixtures, due to start on Sunday (July 11), the LV= County Championship campaign will break, once again, as the Royal London Cup campaign gets underway.

Upon its return, the LV= County Championship will have entered its divisional phase where teams will battle it out to be crowned champions of their respective divisions.

Teams placed first and second in the group stage will be added into Division One, teams placed third and fourth in the group stage will be added into Division Two, and teams placed fifth and sixth will be added into Division Three.

Each team will carry half of their points earned against the other team from their group during the group stage fixtures over to the divisional phase, and they will not play the other team from their group in their divisional fixtures.

Fixtures for the divisional phase of the LV= County Championship will be formulated and announced following the conclusion of the group stage.

Each divisional phase fixture for the Running Foxes will be available via the Club’s official website and social media channels, including our much-improved live stream ahead of the campaign. Further, a live stream will be made available by the home side for away fixtures.

Tickets will be made available to purchase to all four days of each home fixture following the announcement of the fixtures.